Our Diverse Student Population

More than 4,000 international students from 145 countries have chosen to study abroad in Nova Scotia’s universities, colleges, high schools and language schools.

Some post-secondary students find work while they are attending school, and university and college students often take advantage of the opportunity to work for two years in Nova Scotia after they graduate. If you want to find out more about how you can live and work in Nova Scotia, click here.

Our Founding Cultures

Life in Nova Scotia has been largely formed by the different cultures and heritages of the various groups of people who were the earliest inhabitants:

Aboriginal (Mi’kmaq)

French (Acadian)

British

Irish

Scottish

African-Nova Scotian

Each group has its own unique history and culture, from language and distinctive food to music and faith.

Increasing Cultural Diversity

As Canada began to welcome an even greater variety of immigrants, more than one million new Canadians arrived in Nova Scotia’s capital city of Halifax between the years 1928 and 1971. They entered our country through Pier 21 on the city’s historic waterfront, an entry point that has come to symbolize the “front door” for people immigrating to Canada in search of a better life.

Since then, Nova Scotia has had the good fortune to grow into a mosaic of many diverse cultures. New immigrants often become residents for life, and by living and working here, they contribute to our social fabric and our developing economy.